The spices in this recipe give this chickpea and lentil soup its rich flavor even though it has no lamb as in the traditional dish. Harira is a great recipe for the Daniel Fast as it has nearly 15 grams of protein per serving.

2 Tbs canola oil

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 cups warm water

Pinch of saffron threads

1/2 tsp salt, divided

1/4 tsp peeled fresh ginger, minced

1/4 tsp ground red pepper

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 garlic clove, minced

2 cups organic mushroom broth

1 1/2 cups chopped and seeded plum tomatoes

1/2 cup dried small red lentils

2 15 oz. cans no-salt-added chickpeas, drained

3 Tbs chopped fresh cilantro

3 Tbs chopped fresh parsley

Heat oil in a large saucepan on medium heat. Add onion and celery and saute 4 minutes or until tender

Okay, there are going to be times on the Daniel Fast when you need a quick meal. Here is one of my favorites! In fact, when you prepare for the Daniel Fast, you’ll want to stock up on a few of these items so you have the on hand.

A good vegetable stock is useful in the Daniel Fast. Vegetable stock is an excellent substitute for chicken or beef stock. ** See notes for variations on this recipe.

Makes 4 cups of vegetable stock

Simmering the stock for a full hour will release the flavors of the vegetables in your stock. Because of the long simmering time, it is in the stock’s best interest that the vegetables be chopped into large chunks rather than a small dice.

2 large onions, cut into large chunks

2 medium carrots, scrubbed but not peeled, cut into large chunks

3 stalks of celery, remove and discard all leaves, cut into large chunks

1 whole bulb of garlic, peel each clove, but do not chop

10 peppercorns

1 bay leaf

Cut all the vegetables into large pieces. Place all ingredients into a large pot. Cover with cold water.

Turn the stove to a high temperature, and bring the stock to a quick simmer. Once the water comes to boil, turn heat to low. Allow the vegetables to simmer for an hour. Any longer than an hour and the vegetables will begin to turn mushy and begin to lose all their flavorful vibrancy, leaving a wilted taste to the stock.

Strain the stock. It should be light in color, sweet in flavor and translucent. Now you can use the stock in place of chicken or beef stock. You may need to increase seasoning when replacing one of these more flavorful stocks.

** Season the stock with other herbs such as parsley, thyme or rosemary. You can also use ginger if you plan to use the stock for an Asian recipe. You an also caramelize the onions and carrots before adding them to the stock for a richer and more flavorful stock. Roasting the vegetables before adding them to the stock also makes for a different flavor in the stock.

About Susan Gregory and The Daniel Fast

The Daniel Fast is a method of fasting and based on the fasting experiences of the Old Testament prophet Daniel.

Susan Gregory started writing about the fast when she responded to a word from the Lord. Since that time she has become the leading source for information about the Daniel Fast and has a personal call to "serve God by serving His people." Her desire is to help men and women experience a successful fast as they grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Susan is the author of "The Daniel Fast: feed your soul, strengthen your spirit and renew your body" which is available from local and online bookseller or from http://Daniel-Fast.com